Author: Orin Leland
E-mail: orinleland@tokyo.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon and I do not own the song by Lifehouse "Hanging by a Moment"
Author's Notes: This follows the storyline of the manga where Mamoru is in high school, not college. Mamoru is 18 while Usagi is 15. Please remeber to review! I'm looking for at least 10 reviews before I post the next chapter.
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They both heard the bathroom door open and footsteps started down the hall towards them. Usagi took her chance and lept up off of Mamoru's lap, heading for the balcony. Mamoru sighed as Motoki entered the living room, moment ruined.
"Now...I'm falling even more in love with you, letting go of all I've held on to. I'm standing here until you make me move, I'm hanging by a moment here with you."
Mamoru wistfully stared out to the balcony where Usagi now stood, her back to him. Matoki plopped down on the couch next to his now glum friend.
"Cheer up Mamoru. You'll have another chance."
"W..what?"
"I know what just happened. Sorry about that, didn't mean to disturb you." The song on the radio continued to play on in the now uncomfortable silence between the two friends. Usagi still stood on the balcony, not making any move to return to the living room.
"I guess I'll be going then." Motoki said as he got up. "Don't forget that you have to pick up both Usagi and Minako on your way to Club Atlantis tonight."
"Hai."
"See you later tonight." After Motoki left, Mamoru got up off the couch and walked over to the balcony.
"Come on, I'll take you home." Usagi just nodded.
That Night
Usagi had just finished getting ready when she heard a motorcyle pull up outside. She went over to her window where she could get a look at the street outside. She was right, it was Mamoru on his motorcycle. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she watched him walk up to her house. He must have sensed her watching him, because he looked up at her window and flashed her a smile. She quickly pulled her head back in the window, startled.
"Usagi! Mamoru is here!" she heard her mother yell up to her.
"Coming!" she replied. She paused for a moment at the top of the stairs, to make sure her hair was in order and her outfit looked good. She took a deep breath to calm her jitters and headed down the stairs. She smiled slightly and tried to hide her blush when she saw Mamoru waiting by the front door, talking with her mother.
'He looks so handsome!' she thought to herself. He was wearing tight black pants and a silky looking dark green shirt. He was also wearing a black leather motorcycle jacket. In his hand he held two motorcycle helmets, one for him and one for her.
"Where's Minako?" she asked.
"She called me earlier, her mother wanted to drive her there. Motoki and Reika are taking her home from the club." Mamoru replied.
'She looks beautiful!' he thought to himself. He noticed the familiar opal earrings she was wearing and smiled. 'They really do bring out her eyes, I can see why she likes them.'
"Well then, you two get going! Have a good time!" Usagi's mom told them with a smile. Mamoru handed Usagi one of the helmets and turned for the door. Just before Usagi walked out the door though, her mother wispered in her ear.
"He's a keeper. Don't loose him!" Usagi turned to question her but her mother had already shut the door.
"Are you coming?" Mamoru asked her.
"Hai." She put on the helmet and got on the motorcycle behind Mamoru. He revved the engine before putting it into gear and racing off into the night, causing Usagi to involuntarily clutch tightly against him.
At Club Atlantis
Usagi and Mamoru were unable to find Motoki, Reika, Minako, or Makoto. It turned out that the party was huge, and there was just too many people there to find them in the crowd. Mamoru had led them up to the second floor where there was a bit less people than on the first. They found the lounge area with all the overstuffed couches and chairs and decided to sit for awhile, hoping that maybe they could spot one of their friends or they would spot them. Usagi sat down on one of the couches and Mamoru sat down beside her. He watched her as she began to shift uncomfortably. Mamoru then spied the pool tables and was struck with an idea.
"Pool." Usagi looked over at Mamoru, confused.
"Huh?"
"Let's go play pool." he said as he stood up and walked towards the pool tables. Usagi, at a loss for what to do, had no choice but to follow him. Mamoru picked up two cue sticks, looked them over for a second, put one of them them back and selected a slightly smaller one before handing it to Usagi.
"Let's play." he said as he smiled at her.
"Uh, ok, but it's been a really long time since I last played. Besides, I'm not that good at it."
After losing two games in a row to Usagi, Mamoru was convinced that Usagi was the best player on earth. Usagi of course, continued to say that she was that she was no good at the game.
"I don't see how you can say that you are no good at this, you've beaten me twice already and are on your way to a third win. Heck, you haven't even klutzed out once!" Mamoru exclaimed as Usagi took her shot, sinking two balls. She just laughed at him.
"Well, I guess that means that you play even worse than I do."
"No. You just are convinced that you can't do anything good. But you have a talent for this. But you are good at this. Really good." Usagi just looked at him as she came around the table to line up her next shot.
"You're talented at this." he said, very matter-of-factly. Usagi stopped and looked up at him.
"Was that a complement I just heard from you?" Usagi gasped in disbelif. Mamoru nodded. Usagi took a step towards him and suddenly tripped over her cue stick. She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting to hit the floor. But a pair of strong arms grabbed her and stopped her from falling. She opened her eyes and looked up to see Mamoru smailing down at her, having caught her in his arms. He stood her upright, but did not let her go. Usagi blushed as she realized how close he was holding her. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she looked into his deep blue eyes with his dark bangs hanging into them.
"I guess you spoke too soon about me not klutzing out." Usagi said, her voice barely above a wisper. She could feel herself starting to a bit weak in the knees.
"Well isn't it funny how I am always here to catch you?" Mamoru replied, leaning in closer to Usagi. She was suddenly aware of just how close his lips were to hers. She felt her heart pounding in her chest and all awareness of the world around was lost in a haze. All she was aware of was Mamoru. She felt him reach up to her face to stroke her cheek, then run his fingers through her hair, his lips moving closer and closer to hers before they where drawn like magnets to one another. All coherent thoughts left Usagi's brain as he pressed his firms lips against her soft ones. The smell of his soap and colone filled her lungs as she breathed him into her. She felt his tounge gently pass over hir lips and she replied to his request by letting their tounges mingle together. Usagi was thankful that he was still holding her, otherwise she was certain that she would have crumpled to the floor.
Mamoru wished that the moment would never end. The taste of her lips was like honey on his tounge. Every fiber of his being wanted her at that moment, he wanted to just melt into her. It was like heaven and here he was, kissing an angel. When they finally broke their kiss for air, Usagi was flushed and her lips were slightly swollen from the intensity of the kiss.
"Usa-ko." he wispered as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"Mamo-chan."
Motoki watched the couple standing by the pool tables from a third floor balcony. He smiled as he watched the two kiss. Reika walked up from behind him, drink in her hand.
"What are you so happy about?" she asked him as she handed him a drink.
"Look." he said as he motioned down towards the pool tables. She looked and her eyes traveled over the crowd for a moment before she spotted what he was looking at.
"Aww. They look so perfect together! I knew this would work." Reika watched as Mamoru lead Usagi downstairs to the dance floor, hand in hand.
"Come on, let's go dance." Motoki said as he took Reika's hand and began to lead her down to the dance floor.
For the rest of the night, Usagi and Mamoru danced. Fifteen minutes to midnight, Mamoru and Usagi left so he could get her home in time. Just as they were leaving however, Motoki ran up to Mamoru and pulled him aside. They talked for a moment before Motoki smiled at something that caused Mamoru to blush and grin weakly back at him. The two of the talked for a moment more before they parted with a friendly hug. As Mamoru walked back to towards where Usagi was standing, he smiled at her.
"What was that all about?" she asked him.
"uh, oh it was nothing really." Mamoru replied, dodging the question.
"Don't give me that. What's going on?" Usagi was slightly annoyed now.
"He just saw us...well, you know..."Mamoru fumbled, for once at a loss for words. Usagi blinked and then she realized what he was talking about.
"oh. And what did he have to say about that?" she asked him.
"He just said that he's happy for us." Usagi seemed satisfied by that response because she left it at that. The two of them got on Mamoru's motorcycle and sped off into the night, Usagi gripping Mamoru close all the way home.
The Next Morning
Mamoru woke the next morning with the sunlight streaming in through his bedroom window. He smiled as he remembered the events of the previous night.
"Usa-ko..." he wispered. He had spent a night with an angel. His angel. He recalled the kisses they shared. He wanted to experience that for the rest of his life. Mamoru got up and started to get ready. He showered and dressed before going into the kitchen in search of coffee. Mamoru groaned. Out of coffee again. "I have to cut back on this." He took a quick glance at the clock in the kitchen before he grabbed his keys and left the apartment to head to the arcade to get some coffee from Motoki. Tthe clock read 9:30am. "Plenty of time to waste with Motoki and then I can see Usa-ko again." he thought as he shut his apartment door behind him.
Fifteen Minutes Later
The door to the arcade chimed as Mamoru walked in. Matoki looked up from behind the counter as Mamoru took his usual stool at the counter and ordered a cup of coffee. Motoki smiled as he set the cup of steaming liquid in front of his friend.
"So..." Motoki began. Mamoru looked up from sipping at the coffee.
"So what?"
"So how did last night go?" Motoki smirked.
"Last night at the club was great. It was more than great. It was perfect." Mamoru sighed as he gazed out the window of the arcade.
"And?"
"And what?" Mammoru asked as he looked back at Motoki. Motoki just grinned. A look of horror spread over Mamoru's face. "No!" Mamoru shouted at his friend. "I was a gentleman, I took her home you pervert." Just then, the door to the arcade chimed again and both Motoki and Mamoru turned to see who was entering. Mamoru groaned as he recognized the tall red-head entering the arcade.
"What? You know her?" Matoki asked.
"You could say that, hide me! This girl," Mamoru hissed, "I swear she is stalking me." Matoki blinked as he watched his friend try to crouch down in his chair and slink towards the back door. Then he began to laugh. "I would never imaginge Mamoru to be afraid of a mere girl." Motoki thought to himself.
"MAMORU!!" A shrill voice yelled out across the arcade. Mamoru winced.
"Hello Brandy." Mamoru grumbled as the red-head latched herself onto his arm. Mamoru glared at hte reatreating figure of Motoki as her went to answer the ringing phone. "He's going to get it once I get rid of Brandy." Mamoru vowed.
"So Mamoru, when is our date?" Brandy asked with a huge smile on her face. Mamoru paled.
"Date?"
"Yeah, you keep avoiding me whenever I bring it up, I guess you just have such a busy schedule, but I kind of need a date for this concert that I'm going to in a week." Brandy rambled on as Mamoru's mind drifted. How was he going to escape her this time? Every now and then he mumbled a non-commital noise at Brandy while she continuted to chatter at him. She hadn't seemed to notice that he was ignoring her. "Think Chiba, think. How to get rid of her?" Suddenley, Mamoru's thoughts where inturrupted when Brandy grabbed him and kissed him full on the lips. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Mamorou registered the chiming of the door to the arcade opening.
Five Minutes Previous
"Mamo-chan is going to be so surprized that I got up this early." Usagi said to herself as she walked down the street to the arcade. She knew that Mamoru would hang out there from time to time, just a matter of time for him to show up there. And besides, she still hadn't gotten a chance to play any of the new video games. As she walked through the door of the arcade, she noticed that Motoki was on the phone. The only other people in the arcade where a red-head girl...who happend to be kissing her Mamo-chan. All thoughts in Usagi's brain froze at the sight of it. Mamo-chan... With someone else...
To Be Continued...